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Rainbows are the result of sunlight being refracted by drops of water in the air.

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Q: Does a rainbow occur because sunlight is selectively absorbed by water in the raindrops or because it is refracted by water in the raindrops?
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Related questions

Why are there not usually rainbows on overcast days?

Rainbows require sunlight to hit - and be refracted by - the raindrops. There is less likely to be sunlight on an overcast day.


Why do you need rain to have rainbows?

Sunlight is refracted, or bent, when it enters raindrops, and refraction causes the light to pass through the drops in such a way that the spectrum of visible colors is seen.


WHY DO rainbows have colours for kids?

Rainbows have colors because sunlight is made up of different colors of light. When sunlight passes through raindrops, it gets refracted and reflects inside the raindrop, separating the light into its different colors. This creates the spectrum of colors that we see in a rainbow.


What are three things some scientist think happen to the sunlight that enters earth's atmosphere?

It gets absorbed by the ground and other objects.It gets refracted back.It gets absorbed by the atmosphere before entering Earth's atmosphere.


Why can a sunlight form a rainbow?

The sunlight has to be refracted by water drops in order for the sunlight to form a rainbow.


Is a rainbow formed when sunlight bends as it passes through raindrops?

yes


What is sunlight changed into when it is absorbed?

When sunlight is absorbed it is changed into heat. This is because of the wavelength taken to absorb it.


What are rainbows?

Rainbows are a light spectrum caused by sunlight refracting through raindrops.


If a rainbow is refracted sunlight why is it such a neat circle instead of looking scattered?

Because when sunlight gets refracted through water droplets in the air, the different wavelengths are refracted a precise amount in relation to each color that gets separated. The reason you see a circle, or arc, is because it came from a single source, the sun.


When sunlight strikes an object and the light is sent in all directions the light is said to be?

Refracted


What is a example of light refacting?

A rainbow happens when sunlight is refracted by drops of water in the air.


Sunlight tot shine through rain drops and break up into its many colors?

When sunlight shines through raindrops, a rainbow may be the result.